Published: July 19, 2008 12:16 am         

Magnitude 6.6 quake hits eastern Japan

TOKYO (AP) — A strong earthquake with a preliminary 6.6 magnitude struck off of Japan’s eastern coast Saturday, the country’s meteorological agency said. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The quake, which occurred off the coast of Fukushima prefecture about 150 miles northeast of Tokyo, was followed by a magnitude 5.4 aftershock. The quake shook buildings as far away as Tokyo.

The agency issued a tsunami warning for parts of Japan’s eastern coast, but the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu said there was no broad threat in the Pacific.

However, earthquakes of this magnitute can generate local tsunamis that can be destructive within a 60-mile range, the tsunami center said.

Japan sits atop four tectonic plates and is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries.